Lutron Smart Lighting Controls

If you are looking for a smart switch system with wireless connection which can be controlled via an app and via switches, you're in luck: Culina Konect is the solution! Everything in the market nowadays is moving toward smart things - smart lighting, smart lighting control, smart heating control, smart fire alarms, smart thermostat, smart everything. It's time for the switches to be both smart and wireless!What is Culina Konect Self-powered Smart Switch System?You may have never heard of Culina Konect, but this switch system is completely wireless and smart at the same time. Building on the success of their kinetic light switches, Forum Lighting launched the white and black switches plus a handy new key fob with entry-level range of non-wi-fi receivers. The switches convert the kinetic energy produced by physically pressing the switch into electrical energy to control your lights via a receiver. What you need are the receiver and the switch or switches, and you're all set. The receiver comes in a compact design, which means that you can install it almost anywhere. It has a range of up to 40m from the switch when outdoor and 8m away when indoors. If you have one single light fitting, you can install the receiver right there with it, and the switch can be put anywhere you want. The smart switch kit includes a self-powered wall switch and the receiver. After you pair the two by pressing the button on top of the receiver, you can use the wall switch to control the receiver. Of course, the receiver can also work independently. And if you want to use a dimmer, you can do so - there is a dimmer available for wireless installation. How does Culina Konect Smart System work?How does this system work? You need at least two things: a receiver and a switch. The receiver is for each light (if you want to switch or dim an individual light fitting or for each lighting circuit. If you want to control the ceiling fan, you can use the Culina Konect smart system in a similar way - install the receiver with the ceiling fan, and synchronize the switch or switches. The switches do not need to be wired to the mains - they are self-powered, using micro-energy acquisition technology. Each press of the switch is converted to electric energy - kinetic energy is converted to electric energy when the button is pressed. You don't need a battery and you don't need mains power. If you want to dim the LED lights, you need to install the dimming receiver, and if you want to simply switch the LED lights, install the switching receiver. Make sure the receiver is no further than 25m from the switch indoors and 80m outdoors. As for the lifetime of the switch, it can switch ON/OFF at least 100.000 times. Here are the components of the system and where you can purchase them:1 Gang (1 channel) self-powered wall switch in white or black. 2 Gang (2 channel) self-powered wall switch in white or black. 3 Gang (3 channel) self-powered wall switch in white or black. WiFi LED dimmer rated at 1A - with dimming function. WiFi LED On/Off switch rated at 5A in white - with switching function.Wireless transmitter fob in grey. Where can you use the Culina Konect Smart Switching System?The beauty of this smart switching/dimming system is that you can install the receiver with the light fitting/lighting circuit, synchronize it with the switch, switches, or dimmers, and then the switches can be put wherever you want to in the house without "making a hole in the wall". The switches can be free-standing or mounted on the wall, as needed. Here are some scenarios where this smart switching system can help. Buy Konect Smart Switching SystemSwitching ON/OFF the light in the bedroom without getting up from the bed. If you have a wireless Culina Konect switch on the wall, one on your side of the bed, and one on your partner's side of the bed, you're all set. You don't need to get up from the bed to turn on/off the light. And if you have more than one lighting circuit or system in the bedroom, you can sync them to the different switches so that you turn on or off only the lights you require. No need to wire the switches - they connect remotely!Turning ON/OFF the light outdoors without going out. You can install the receiver with the lights or light outside, and the switches can be both outdoors and indoors. And if you want to switch the lights from the shed or other outdoor buildings, simply place a switch there. The IP67 rating of the switches allows you to mount them indoors and outdoors. And you don't have to worry about wiring the switches either indoors or outdoors!Make sure lights are ON or OFF while away, as needed. If you install the wifi-enabled receiver, you can connect via the app or via google assistant and remotely turn off the lights. Even when you're not at home, this remote switching possibility is available via the app. Conclusion: it's time to switch to a Smart Switching SystemIf you want to improve your home or simply desire to make the switching of the lights easier, a smart switching system with a wireless connection and self-powered switches is what you need. And these are available at Sparks for much less than you think. They are a fraction of the price big brands charge for their wireless switching system.No wiring is needed! That's the best bit about this smart switching system, Culina Konect.Buy Smart Switches at Sparks All you need to do is install the receiver with the light, lights, lighting system, or ceiling fan, and sync it with the switch or switches. That's all you need! After pairing the switch/es with the receiver, just place the switch/es where you need it/them. No cables are required. No breaking the wall to sink the switches because you changed your mind about the location of the switch. It may be time to switch to a smart switching system with wireless interconnection!

These days there are so many smart things, smart devices, and smart technologies that can make our home smarter; as we have a smart home, we also need to make sure it is safe. We were recently consulting the, Safer and Smarter Home guide by Electrical Safety First and we were inspired to bring some of these details to the forefront for our customers and visitors also.Keep reading this guide to find out more about: Having a Smart Home - BenefitsHaving a Smart Home that is also Safe!As of today, May 2024, some many smart devices and sensors can be installed or used in our home, including:Smart camerasSmart door locksSmart video monitoring systemSmart shades systemSmart water controlSmart heat control devicesSmart access controlSmart weather devicesSmart lightsSmart sensorsSmart WifiSmart Solar PanelsSmart multimedia controlsSmart climate controlsSmart flood sensorsSmart alarm systemSmart garage doorIn a sense, there's a smart device for any aspect of our daily life and for every part of the home, and many modern people rush into getting this and that smart device, only to discover that, eventually, some devices don't work with one another while others are complicated to set up and maintain, and still others die suddenly. When the smart devices work, life is bliss, but when there are problems, life tends to be a mess. We need to learn to measure and manage the smart home in a proper way so that it can be not just a smart home but also a safe home. If we install the smart things as the manufacturer intends and instructs, they assist us and even improve certain aspects of our lives. However, we need to be aware of some of the dangers or hazards involved in having and using smart devices around the house and have a smart home that is also safe. Having a Smart Home - BenefitsAs we live in this post-pandemic world, we realize that we have an increasing need for electronic devices that are interconnected. Actually, the pandemic accelerated the use of electronic devices and smart devices, both for leisure and for work, and we realize how easier life can be when we have them around. There are some great benefits of having a smart home, which include:Energy Saving by Controlling, Monitoring, and Saving Energy with Smart DevicesWhen we have connected devices that help us monitor our heating, water, and energy usage, we can control it better, keep track of what we're using, and reduce costs. We can be notified when there's an excess of water or energy used, and we know for sure that the bill will be lower when we use energy-saving LED Lamps and LED light fittings. We will be aware of how much we spend on using heat pumps and the electric boiler, and we will reduce the cost when switching to smarter heating systems. Buy Intelligent Thermostats at SparksHaving a Smart Home when we Work from HomeIf there's one thing the pandemic showed us is that many of us can work from home, at least partially. We do relax and unwind at home, but at the same time, we work either part-time or full-time from home. Smart devices and smart sensors in our home, paired together with smart control systems, can make our lives simpler and our work-from-home experience much more enjoyable. We may learn how to set up our home network, TV, audio, lighting, and other smart systems around the house. ConvenienceOne of the best benefits of having a smart home that is also safe is convenience. Having voice-activated assistants and touchscreen control of the systems around the house is very convenient. And many times we can remotely control and adjust the smart devices in our home - even when we're at the office or on holiday. For example, we may want to make sure the house is warm when we get back from holiday, so we remotely adjust the heating. We can even set up individual lighting schemes based on our needs or according to our mood. SecurityWith the rise in the smart doorbells, it is so easy to install one and remotely answer the door or greet your guests. Even without opening the door, we can chat with visitors or mailmen. Furthermore, there are many security systems that can be installed around the house and in the house to monitor the premises. There are also smart locks that can be used to open the door and allow specific people to come in, based on their credentials and security access. SafetySome of the smart devices we use in our home can monitor whether we have left an appliance on or off, and we can see whether we can turn it off remotely. We can avoid potential fire hazards by using smart technology, turning the electricity or heating off remotely. For instance, some smart home sensors can detect temperature, levels of carbon dioxide, or water leaks, and they notify the homeowner. We at Sparks sell a range of smart Fire Alarms and Heat Alarms by Aico, incorporating AudioLINK+ and alsoRadioLINK+ technology. For those who are elderly or disabled, there are smart home technologies and devices that can make a great difference to their quality of life and guarantee the peace of mind of the caregivers. Automatic sensors can be installed to check if a cooker has been left ON or a bath is overflowing. The light can be automatically turned on when presence is detected and off when someone leaves the room. Voice-controlled smart home devices also help people with limited mobility by making common household appliances easy to use. A Smart Home Can Improve Well-beingHaving a smart home and interconnected smart devices can also enhance personal well-being.Many health-related devices monitor and alert you regarding different health conditions and anomalies. Many smart routines can be set up in the home to help with sleep and living patterns. There are smart air filtration systems and dehumidifiers to purify and ventilate the air. For example, at Sparks, we sell a range of dMEV ventilation systems which come on when moisture is detected, and they run slowly in the background when they are not needed. Buy iConstant dMEV FansHaving a Smart Home that is also Safe: Safer Smarter HomesWhen we consider the smart devices, sensors, and technologies that can be installed and used around the home, it's not the fire hazards that are more common but the nuisance related to installing, maintaining, interlinking, controlling, warranty, fixing, and taking care of these smart things. It is important to consider certain matters when planning to buy smart things for the house. It is important to consider that the smart home is also safe - there's a need for safer smarter homes. Here is a list of questions to consider before purchasing a new piece of technology that is smart and can improve our life at home:Will this smart device work with my other smart devices?We need to know what system we use at home, how the smart devices interconnect, and how will this new device interconnect and relate to the other devices. Some competitor technologies and manufacturers do not interoperate, so we can save ourselves the frustration of trying to make them work together by making sure this happens before we buy them. Buy Aico Smart Fire AlarmsDoes this smart device use Bluetooth or wifi? Can my wifi cover it?Some smart devices require a good wifi connection, while others connect via Bluetooth. Before purchasing any smart device, we need to consider if we have enough wifi coverage to reach that device and whether we can use Bluetooth to reach it if Bluetooth is required. Software updates: how long are they guaranteed?It is imperative to know beforehand if the smart device we purchase is guaranteed for at least 2-3 years to have software updates by the manufacturer. Regular software updates improve the smart device and patch any issues or errors. How long do we have after-sales support? Is there online support?We may think we know everything we need to know about a particular smart device, for we studied it and we know it inside out, but it's best to know before buying whether we have after-sales support, and for how long. Also, we need to know the place online where we can get support, first by registering the product and then by enquiring with them about different issues that may arise. Is this smart device the real thing?Sometimes the price of a smart device is so low that we're ready to buy it; however, we need to make sure we buy the right thing, the device made by that manufacturer, and not any counterfeit device. For example, we at Sparks sell smart devices made by Forum Lighting, Danfoss, and Aico, among others, and we sell original products made by these manufacturers. Is my personal data safe?Many times our personal data and device usage is stored in the cloud, so we need to make sure that our personal data is safe before purchasing a product. If a particular manufacturer has a track record of being lax about their security and there are data breaches, it is not recommended to purchase smart devices from them. What's the backup plan for when this smart device fails?No one wants to think about this, but it is an important point to consider. If the smart device we're about to buy will fail, what's the backup plan? Let's say we replace our doorbell with a smart one, and the smart doorbell fails; what is our backup plan? Note: all the above tips are inspired by the Electrical Safety First guide to Smart Home and Safety - guides 1 and 2. At Sparks, we sell a limited amount of smart devices, but we want to make sure all our visitors and customers are safe when purchasing and using smart devices for a smart home - even a smarter safer home. 

The RA2 Select system from Lutron allows you to enjoy personalized smart lighting in your house. This system gives you comfort, increased peace of mind and control over your home - even when you aren’t in. Once purchased, you can implement this system by simply downloading the free Lutron app, available on the Google Play store (Android) and App Store (iOS). Get up and running with Lutron RA2 Select The Lutron app allows for convenient system setup. The app automatically configures light settings for typical everyday activities and chores, such as cooking and dining. The device used to control the RA2 Select is called the ‘Pico’ and comes available either as a keypad or as a remote. The engraved Pico ‘scene keypad’ gives every keypad in the home an intuitive name, such as ‘Bright’, ‘Entertain’, and ‘Relax’, with their own preset lighting modes. Lutron uses its patented Clear Connect RF technology, which is highly reliable and safe from interference. You can trust your system will work with precision and accuracy, free from conflict with neighboring systems. The Pico remote is easy to install, as you can flush mount it to your wall without the need to cut a hole or do any wiring. The screwless wall plate design adds a sleek, modern touch to the appearance of the keypad. You are able to mount the Pico wireless remotes on a tabletop pedestal, and they are available in single, double and triple configurations. This once again adds to the convenience of the RA2, as you can choose to have access to multiple remotes.Buy Lutron RA2 Select at Sparks Features of the Lutron RA2 Select With the RA2 main repeater, you can control all your lights - using your smartphone or tablet - from anywhere in the world, using the Lutron app. The RA2 enables you to schedule exterior lights to turn on or off before you arrive home at the end of a workday. Then, you can switch on entry lights with the app’s ‘Home’ button to present yourself with an illuminated path to your front door. If you are heading out, the ‘Away’ button ensures that you will never leave the lights on for protracted amounts of time (and waste money on energy bills by doing so). Furthermore, you can easily set the RA2 to optimum levels that emit just the right amount of light for your household chores. Below is Lutron’s table (page 4). It offers suggested light coverage for different household settings. Household setting Ceiling Lights Island Lights Pendant lights Bright 100% 100% 100% Cooking 100% 100% 50% Dining 20% 65% 50% Out Off Off Off Full control of your home lighting With the RA2 Select, you can fully get to grips with your home’s interior lighting ambiance. It gives you the ability to create the perfect atmosphere for entertaining friends, with light and audio control ready at your fingertips. You could, for instance, watch your favorite movie without fear of glare disturbing your experience. All you have to do is remotely turn your lights off - just as the opening credits start to roll. It isn’t just your social life that will be improved by the RA2 Select. It will give you a relaxing start to the day, by perfectly lighting your morning grooming routine. This gentle level of light gives your eyes the chance to gradually adjust in the morning and to relax in the evening. You can tinker with your bathroom lights brightness before you even enter the room, thus avoiding having to use an inconvenient pull cord. After your gentle morning start and relaxing end to the evening, you will likely be ready to fall straight into bed. With the ‘Goodnight’ button, this is extremely simple; a single switch will turn off all the lights in your home.Buy Wireless Lutron Systems If you were to hear a rustling disturbance in the dead of night, you need only hit the ‘Alert’ button to turn on the hallway lights. This would certainly give a potential intruder a nasty fright. Lutron has thought of everything with their intuitive design. For instance, if you are a nocturnal animal and your partner is not, you may fancy some night-time reading. In this case, you can use a wireless Pico remote to turn on the lamp on your side of the bed. We here at Sparks sell many of the key components that make up the RA2 Select system including the crucial main repeater, and Pico remotes. The RA2 Select from Lutron: a smart home system for modern living The RA2 grants you all the tools at its disposal to give you a smart home lighting system. You can achieve this domestic bliss by taking advantage of these features: Scheduling: program the lights to automatically adjust at a certain time of day. Geofencing: this controls the lights, depending on your geographical location. The feature will automatically turn lights on for you - when you arrive home - and turn them off when you leave. Smart Away: this feature turns lights on or off at random times during the day, to trick any would-be intruders into thinking there’s someone home (when you’re out). The RA2 Select is compatible with a wide variety of popular home systems, including Amazon Alexa, the Apple Homekit, Google Assistant, Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostats, Nest, and Sonos. This essentially means you can expand your smart home to become even more advanced if you already have any of the above systems in place. The Pico keypad: Ultimate convenience and control The Pico wireless keypad is battery-operated and requires no external power or communication wiring. It provides easy access to scene control in the following Lutron systems: Caséta Wireless, RA2 Select, RadioRA 2 and HomeWorks QS. Furthermore, they can be reconfigured depending on your needs, either as a wall-mounted keypad, or a tabletop keypad. The keypad can provide control of lighting devices within a range of 9 meters through walls and has an impressive 18-meter line-of-sight range. Every individual button on the Pico is programmable using the system’s app or programming software. They are available in gloss and selected satin colour finishes, to fit the setting of any room decor.Lutron Pico Keypads - RA2 Select Lutron: know that you are in safe hands with the RA2 home system Lutron is known for providing premium quality when it comes to installing and using LED lighting and lighting control systems. More information about Lutron and their selection of LED lights can be found here. Careful inspections by Lutron have ensured that thousands of their bulbs, drivers and fixtures have been tested for compatibility. LED report cards demonstrate strong performance results from features such as trim settings and the maximum number of lamps allowed. The RA2 Select is a natural step forward for Lutron, a company that has always strived for lighting perfection. If you are a fan of smart home features, then we highly recommend you look into investing in this excellent smart-light system.

We all have heard and even seen a wireless lighting control system, and at Sparks we have the wonderful Rako Control wireless/wired lighting control system available. But many times we need help with planning a system with Rako Controls. We read the instructions given by the manufacturer via their page, Planning a System, and we are detailing them below for you, the informed visitor, to make an informed decision when purchasing a wireless lighting control system - or a wired one. If you are looking for information related to scene setting, wireless or wired control, how to plan a system, what controls do you need, can you use a non-Rako keypad to work with the system, how to integrate with curtain and blinds, and what are the common pitfalls, read more below and you shall find out! All the information is prepared and posted by Rako - we at Sparks only distribute their items; if you require any quote for a lighting project, do not hesitate to contact us. Read more to find out about:Scene setting with Rako ControlsControlling the Lights via Wireless or Wired SystemsPlanning the Rako Controls SystemRako Controls needed for the SystemUsing Non-Rako Keypads with Rako SystemIntegration with Curtains and BlindsCommon Problems or Pitfalls in Lighting ControlGet a Quote for Rako Wireless/Wired Lighting Control SystemPlanning a Lighting Control System with Rako Controls1. Scene setting with Rako ControlsIt is important to define your lighting zones. Start by grouping lights that need independent control. Think of each dimmer channel as a lighting “zone.” Kitchens, living rooms, master bedrooms, and bathrooms all deserve distinct zones. Even within a single room, consider splitting circuits—e.g., bedside reading lamps vs. ambient lighting—for ultimate flexibility.Scene lighting has long been used in the commercial environment to create appealing lighting in areas such as restaurants, conference facilities and boardrooms. Gaining its name from the theatre where complex lighting changes are needed for each scene, it allows a lighting mood to be recalled by pressing one button rather than adjusting several rotary knob type dimmers. Applied to home use, scene-setting allows a user to select the appropriate mood of lighting for the task at hand (even if that’s watching TV), and all the lighting in the room will adjust to the preferred, pre-programmed setting.There are several reasons why scene-setting is desirable. Most lighting settings are quite repeatable. So why not just press a button to get that setting? For rooms where there are multiple circuits of lighting, a single keypad avoids the need for lots of individual rotary dimmers that all need adjusting before the correct settings are obtained.If those multiple circuits are quite different lighting types, e.g. mains voltage downlights and low voltage LED tape, then the dimmers required for these might well use quite different dimming techniques, and may not be available in matching styles.With a scene-setting system like Rako, the dimmer packs are remote units and can therefore be specific to the lamp types in question. Look at the Rako list of dimmer modules to see the variety needed to maximise the performance of all lighting types!Once a push button style of dimming is chosen, then multi-way dimming is possible, either from multiple wall panels or hand-held remotes. Push button dimming also allows the system to be interfaced with other controls, such as audio-visual or security systems and also allows control from smartphones or tablets via an App. The Rako system allows table and freestanding lamps to be incorporated into the overall control, either by dimming special 5A sockets (for lighting use only) or by installing a wireless module in line with the flex and plugging into a standard 13A socket.Make the most of Lighting Scene SettingCreating effective mood lighting goes hand in hand with good lighting. A good lighting design creates interest and highlights features in a room. A flat, even lighting is fine for task lighting but cosy mood lighting is best achieved by being able to create pockets of light. This takes a combination of design and control.Best Lights for Mood Setting2. Controlling the Lights via Wireless or Wired SystemsWhen planning a Rako system, possibly the biggest consideration is whether to plan for a wired or wireless system. Both can integrate together to form combined systems but which should form the core platform?For a retrofit solution, the wireless option is obvious. Cabling will already be in place so being able to put wireless modules where the cables can be accessed, such as behind downlights, and the lack of data cabling to the switch positions will dictate a wireless solution.For new installations, the choice between wired and wireless solutions is something for consideration.Wireless is generally easier to install and commission. It is usually a lower-cost solution, more so for smaller installations, especially where they can be manually set up.The structure of a wired system, requiring a RAKLink for control panel connections, typically requires more circuits to amortise the fixed costs. The wired keypads are also more expensive than their wireless counterparts.A wired system has advantages in avoiding any concerns about wireless transmission range and the lack of dependence on battery power for the keypads means that they can have backlit buttons. The connection via a data cable allows more information to be transmitted, so there is more functionality available and as all wired devices are connected, the whole system can be interrogated and, if need be, upgraded.A wired system is more involved to set up and commission, and will require the use of a laptop to programme. Larger and more involved wireless schemes may require this too but simpler wireless systems can be set up without the use of a laptop.Rako Controls Wired/Wireless3. Planning the Rako Controls SystemAs a basic premise, a dimmer channel is needed for each group of lighting that needs to be controlled separately. With Rako, this may either be a single module or a channel within a rack. The more groups, or channels of lighting, the more flexible the system is but equally, the cost goes up accordingly. Of course some grouping is obvious, a row of wall lights will always need to be set to the same level, but maybe front and rear wall lights should be separated to allow differential lighting from front to back, especially if a TV is on the front wall.Give some priority to rooms; everyone has their own opinions on which rooms are key. Whilst dimming in a master bedroom is desirable, if nothing else to avoid the harsh glare of light first thing in the morning, guest bedrooms may come further down the pecking order. Bath and shower rooms may be more appealing under subdued lighting but even more so if they're used at night, again when a harsh glare is unpleasant. Are bathrooms often used for baths when a relaxing soak might be enjoyed more in softer lighting? For a true whole house control of course, all the rooms should be controlled by the system and its nice to have, for example, a 'Master Off' button by the bedside to be sure all lighting is off but a complete system is potentially expensive.When considering wet rooms, think of the extract. Regulations may require this to be controlled by the lighting system but again with a separate control module this can be programmed not to come on during those nightly trips to the loo.Open plan spaces may need to be thought of as separate rooms for control. This isn't a necessity, but when a room has two uses, which maybe concurrent, think about how the lighting will be controlled. For example in an open kitchen/living space, will people want to dim the living room lights whilst the kitchen needs to be bright, especially if you're entertaining and preparing food at the same time. Of course, a scene setting system is designed to give flexible control but when you consider, say 4 scenes in the living area and 4 in the kitchen, this gives 16 combinations. If nothing else a panel with 16 scene options is confusing and messy. In this instance, it might be better to think of the space as 'two control rooms' even if there is a 'Master' control for the area. Don't have circuits of lights that span the two areas as these may well get caught in the 'battle for control'.Even within a scene-set room, some circuits may benefit from separate control for instance, bedside lighting. As with the previous example above if the bedside lights are integrated into the normal room scenes the possible combinations of ambient room settings multiplied by the his/her on/off scenarios, let alone with dim level options, can be considerable. Instead, possibly think of either having a separate, normal switch for these, or a separate button, or buttons (for dimming) on a Rako plate. There are solutions for these issues but they are best discussed before buying a system rather than trying to configure unsuitable parts after the event.Hallways are often statement rooms and have lighting that benefits from intelligent control. They do however, also have a requirement for two way control of stairwells and landings. Many users are familiar with the traditional two way switching concept. When planning a Hall/Stairwell area it is worth thinking about how the different floors are to be controlled, both separately and together. Commonly, the best solution is to use control panels with slightly different layouts to give the flexibility required. Examples of these are the RCM072 and RCM102.Think about where wall panels should be located and what they should control. Generally, a wall plate should control scenes within the room itself. Depending on the scope of the system one control panel can be programmed to control different rooms but this can rapidly make the system confusing to use and often clients' wishes have unforeseen contradictions that make programming difficult or impossible.Consider what other controls may be required, such as 'holiday mode' to simulate occupancy. Interfacing to security systems so that lights come on as well as an alarm sounding. Is control from a smartphone or tablet required?If the system is to be integrated with an audiovisual system then ask the AV installer for advice, they will have experience with lighting control systems and be able to help.Finally, remember that at any point Rako will be happy to help with planning a system for you.Planning a System for Lighting Control4. Rako Controls needed for the SystemNotwithstanding variants with different button arrangements, Rako keypads come in one of three basic forms.Wired Keypads - WCM, WK-EOS and WK-MOD – The requirement for wired keypads is fairly well defined in that they are the only Rako keypads that connect directly to a wired network via a CAT5 data cable.Wireless (RCM) and Wireless NFC Keypads (RNC, RK-EOS and RK-MOD) - Both transmit wireless messages to dimmers with RF receivers, the difference is in how they are configured and their programming capabilities.The RCM range of keypads use small switches (DIL) to determine which House and Room they control. These switches are easily changed with a small screwdriver or tip of a pen. Once set the address of the whole keypad is set and all the buttons will control the lighting in that Room. These keypads can be configured without the need for programming software.Some advanced features can be set by pressing and holding certain button arrangements (see the application sheet Advanced Control Panel Features) or by programming macros in a Hub that supports these.The NFC range of keypads (RNC, RK-EOS and RK-MOD) have no addressing switches and are programmed exclusively by NFC (Near Field Communication) via a Hub or RAMPI programming interface connected to a PC or Mac and using RASOFT Pro software. Programming requires a working knowledge of the Rako software but does give access to more features than the RCM range keypads.Full Range of Rako Controls5. Using Non-Rako Keypads with Rako SystemRako’s scene-setting keypads rely on push-button control to recall the moods or scenes of lighting. Whilst the plates are available in a wide range of finishes to suit most interiors, there are instances where either the modern look of the push button keypad is not appropriate or where a switch plate style has been chosen and the Rako keypads must match. For these instances, Rako can provide the solution in the form of the RCI-4L and RCI-7M interface units. Both accept inputs from third-party switches and convert these into Rako scene commands. The RCI-4L takes latching inputs, such as those given by a conventional light switch or toggle or dolly-type switch. The RCI-7M accepts momentary inputs such as those from ‘retractive’ or spring-loaded switches.Switches and Keypads at Sparks6. Integration with Curtains and BlindsCurtain and blind control can be integrated into a Rako lighting system, or indeed be used in a stand-alone configuration.  As with all things Rako, the solution can be wired or wireless. As well as control, Rako can now also supply blinds and curtain track from our partners QMotion UK and Silent Gliss, the leading UK suppliers of quality blinds and track.7. Common Problems or Pitfalls in Lighting ControlKeep it simple. Despite the technology behind a control system, the user controls should be simple and easy to use. Rako knows that all users are different and that systems can be programmed to alarming degrees of complexity. Some users might revel in this but experience shows that the best results are achieved by clear, easy programming. Rako’s suggestion would be that keypads should give similar control throughout the house, e.g. a series of scenes in descending order of brightness. Scenes should control the room where the keypad is located in. Controlling remote rooms is possible, but should be considered carefully as it often has unforeseen implications.Rako engineers, both field and office-based have years of experience with programming control systems. It's always worth consulting before planning how buttons are configured. That said, Rako control panels can be set with advanced functions such as ‘Master Off’. As Rako Controls has plenty of experience with common programming scenarios, there are often practical ways of overcoming these and button layouts are available as standard to suit.Another common downfall is for customers to buy dimmers and fittings before consulting with Rako or a Rako dealer.  Ensuring compatibility between fittings and dimmers can be a complex process, as can be selecting lamps and drivers with the best dimming performance. At Rako, we are happy to spend time helping customers make these decisions.  It is far better to talk to us beforehand and get things right rather than afterwards when there is a problem that needs sorting out.Best Wireless Lighting Control8. Get a Quote for Rako Wireless/Wired Lighting Control SystemRegardless of whether you ask Rako directly or go through a Rako dealer or installer, having a good idea of the lighting scheme, control points and rooms to be controlled is vital. Without firm information, it will be possible to give indicative and budget pricing but no more.For an accurate quote, the information should give a schedule of the lighting to be controlled, broken down into the separate groups or channels that require individual control. Each channel should detail the number of individual lights and their type, including, if possible, exact lamp information.The schedule should also give the number of control points (keypads) required for each room and the finish of the plates. Any further control requirements such as smartphone control or timed event,s should also be detailed.Request a Rako Controls Quote